Students, teachers and supporters cheer during a school choice rally at the Texas Capitol, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Austin, Texas. School choice supporters called for expanding voucher programs and charter schools statewide. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

Students, teachers and supporters cheer during a school choice rally at the Texas Capitol, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Austin, Texas. School choice supporters called for expanding voucher programs and charter ... more

Texas Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, center, who has filed SB2 the senate's version of the appropriations bill, is joined by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, right, and Senator Paul Bettencourt at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, as she filed three pieces of legislation to provide tax relief for Texas families and businesses. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ralph Barrera) less

Texas Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, center, who has filed SB2 the senate's version of the appropriations bill, is joined by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, right, and Senator Paul Bettencourt at a press ... more

Photo: Ralph Barrera, MBO

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Senators debate school vouchers bills

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AUSTIN - The Senate Education Committee on Thursday kicked off what is likely to be a day-long debate over a handful of education voucher bills that would allow parents to use state money to send their children to private and religious schools.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has promised this session to throw the full weight of his office behind "school choice" generally, and vouchers in particular. Legislation of this kind has failed over the past several sessions in Texas.

Senate Bill 276 by Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, would allow parents to send their children to a private or parochial school on the state's dime. The legislation would pay for the full tuition at the chosen school, or 60 percent of the total amount of money each public school district receives from the state per child.

The remaining 40 percent would go back into the state's general revenue. A fiscal note on the bill notes one-half of one percent of Texas schoolchildren, or just under 25,000 kids, would be eligible under Campbell's bill.

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Senate Bill 642 by Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would give private businesses a tax credit for creating scholarships to send children to private or parochial schools.

Debate over the two bills, which is expected to last most of Thursday, already was emotional by mid-morning. Campbell denied criticisms that vouchers divert public money to schools that do not have to live up to state curriculum or performance standards.

"There's no such thing, when you really get down to it, as state dollars," said Campbell. "That's not a diversion. It's a decision."

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said the bill would hurt public schools by draining money from their coffers, and would further divide the state between haves and have-nots, since it does not fully fund tuition.

Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, asked whether Campbell would favor vouchers being used to send students to a hypothetical religious school that teaches anti-American or anti-Christian lessons.

Campbell responded, "There are going to be some schools out there, some outliers, that I would not send my child to. That is still a parent's choice."